PARIS, France — Defending champion Hansle Parchment will begin his quest for back-to-back titles at the Olympic Games when he competes in the 110m hurdles heats at the Stade De France on Sunday. The event is scheduled to begin at 4:50 am Jamaica time.

Parchment, who is Jamaica’s most decorated sprint hurdler, is to be joined in the event by countrymen and Olympic debutants Rasheed Broadbell and Orlando Bennett.

Parchment, a veteran in the sport at age 34, won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 and bronze at the 2012 Games in London. However, he will enter the Paris Olympic Games as the third fastest Jamaican in the event this year with a season’s best time of 13.19 seconds.

Broadbell, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, along with Bennett, are the quickest Jamaican athletes over the obstacle event, with their time of 13.18, achieved when both men finished just ahead of Parchment in the final of the event at the National Championships in June.

Parchment, who has a personal best of 12.93, is ranked the 18th-fastest man over the distance this year. Grant Holloway of the United States is the quickest man globally this year with 12.86.

“I am feeling good so far, I am feeling like things are coming together and I am getting fit, and I am definitely looking forward to the start of the Olympics,” said Parchment.

“I have had some time to really settle down [after the Olympic trial] and really focus on my training without any distraction. I feel like I am a lot higher now than where I was at the trial, and so mentally, I am ready,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s reigning world women’s 200m champion Shericka Jackson, who recently pulled out of the 100m event, is down to compete in the 200m heats on Sunday.

She will be joined in the event by compatriots Nisha Burgher and Lanae-Tava Thomas.

This event is scheduled to start at 3:55 am Jamaica time.

World Championships 400m hurdles bronze medallist Rushell Clayton, Janieve Russell and Shiann Salmon are to compete in the heats of the competition starting at 5:35 am Jamaica time.

In the heats of the men’s 400m competition, which is scheduled to start at 12:05 pm Jamaica time, national champion Deandre Watkins, Sean Bailey and Jevaughn Powell are set to participate in the event for Jamaica.

Shericka Jackson leaves training at Complexe Sportif de L’lle Des Vannes in France on July 30, 2024. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

SWIMMING

4:00am – Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats – Sabrina Lyn

TRACK AND FIELD

3:05am – M 110m Hurdles Decathlon

3:10am – M Pole Vault Qualification

3:35am – M 100m Preliminary Round

3:55am – M Discus Throw Decathlon – Group A

4:10am – W 800m Repechage Round

4:45am – M 100m Heats ***

5:00am – Discus Throw Decathlon – Group B

6:40am – M Pole Vault Decathlon

12:10pm – M Javelin Throw Decathlon – Group A

12:15pm – M 1500m Repechage Round

12:35pm – M Shot Put FINAL ***

12:50pm – W 100m Semi-Final ***

1:10pm – M Javelin Throw Decathlon – Group B

1:20pm – W Triple Jump FINAL ***

1:55pm – Mixed Relays 4x400m FINAL ***

2:20pm – W 100m FINAL ***

2:45pm – M 1500m Decathlon

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE

TRACK AND FIELD

3:05am – W 3000m Steeplechase Heats

3:20am – W Hammer Throw Qualification – Group A

3:55am – W 200m Heats ***

4:00am – M Long Jump Qualification ***

4:45am – W Hammer Throw Qualification – Group B

4:50am – M 110m Hurdles Heats ***

5:35am – W 400m Hurdles Heats ***

12:05pm – M 400m Heats ***

12:50pm – W High Jump FINAL ***

1:00pm – M 100m Semi-Final ***

1:30pm – M Hammer Throw FINAL

1:35pm – W 800m Semi-Final ***

2:10pm – M 1500m Semi-Final

2:50pm – M 100m FINAL ***